Day 2

“Travel isn’t always pretty. It isn’t always comfortable. Sometimes it hurts, it even breaks your heart. But that’s okay. The journey changes you; it should change you. It leaves marks on your memory, on your consciousness, on your heart, and on your body. You take something with you. Hopefully, you leave something good behind.” -Anthony Bourdain 


How did your experience in Belize last year change the way you view teaching/education?  

We both had an amazing time teaching in Belize through the university's ITE program last year. It is amazing that you learn so much about yourself personally and further form your teacher identity while you are here in the schools. We both agree that through the 2017 teaching experience our understanding of culturally responsive pedagogy only grew. As we have taught different groups of kiddos since then we enter the classroom environment with the belief that the cultures of the students play such an important role as you can use that connections to their daily lives. Additionally, that experience also opened up our eyes to new ways of adapting content and lessons according  to what is currently available for you to use. As teachers it is critical that you are flexible and adapt to fit the needs of students. This was a great place of growth for us both.  

What is one thing you are hoping to take away from your second experience in Belize?  

We are both beyond excited to watch our peers from the University of Louisville fall in love with the schools and students here in Belize. Our hope is that when we leave here we will be leaving with 17 others that are just as crazy about Belize as we are! We can't wait to watch them make their own memories with these special students they have the privilege to work with. 

-Maggie and Kenzie